Why You Should Visit Your Dentist if Your Dentures Break

Unfortunately, people lose one or many teeth during their lives. Some patients are completely edentulous before reaching their fifties! 

Thanks to modern dentistry, there are many ways to replace them. Among them, our dentist in Flagstaff offers complete and partial dentures.

What are Dentures?

Dentures are oral devices that consist of acrylic and fake teeth for edentulous patients. Depending on how many teeth you are missing, your doctor may customize full or partial ones.

Full Dentures

As their name suggests, your doctor will use these for fully edentulous patients. They consist of a base of pink acrylic (which resembles the gums) and false teeth. 

The procedure takes two appointments. In the first one, your doctor will take a mold of your mouth for the dentures. They may place temporary ones for you to go home with teeth. 

After a dental technician creates the permanent ones, you will visit your dentist for the fitting. Your doctor will evaluate that they don’t fall out when you speak and that you feel comfortable.

Partial Dentures

These also have metal hooks that grasp the remaining teeth for support. They retain better, and your doctor will perform a similar procedure; however, before anything, they will drill small holes in specific dental pieces, where the metallic appliances will rest.

Whether you are looking for complete dentures near you or partial ones, you must take care of them for long life. They last around five to seven years.

Caring for Your Dentures?

If you acquire our dentures in Flagstaff, you should follow these recommendations:

• Brush them – Every day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a mild soap. Do not use toothpaste because it harms them. Also, use lukewarm to cool water because hot water may bend them out of shape-
• Take a break – Before bedtime, remove them and soak them in the water of denture cleaning solution. Giving your mouth a break will avoid oral issues such as mouth sores and gum irritation.
• Reduce pigmented foods and drinks – Like chocolate, black tea, coffee, and red wine. These substances stain the acrylic of your dentures, making your smile look unpleasant.
• Visit your dentist regularly – You must visit a dentist twice a year (every six months) for a general checkup. If you are a dentures wearer, your doctor will monitor the device and repair it (if necessary).
• Avoid DIY repairs – If your dentures break, do not use superglue. There is the misconception that it works and fixes them. While it will glue it, it is toxic, and if your dentist needs to perform a permanent repair, they may not be able to afterward.

We strongly suggest visiting a dentist near you if your dentures break or are not fitting correctly after some time. A dental professional will evaluate them and decide if it is fixable or should you get new ones. 

The Bottom Line

Dentures are oral devices that replace many and even all of your teeth. They last up to seven years (they can last longer in some cases), and you must take good care of them for better results. 

You should remove them before bedtime to prevent mouth sores and clean them daily for a healthy mouth. 

In case of an accident with your dentures, contact a dental professional right away. We know that DIY techniques are popularizing, but there are professionals for a reason. We are available to help you with any events you may have with or without dentures and to evaluate your oral health every six months for a perfect smile.